Sleigh



(No Model.)

W. H. REMSEN.

SLEIGH.

No. 359,692. Patented Mar. 22, 1887.

UNITED STATES PATENT @rricn.

WILLIAM H. REMSEN, OF CEDAR RAPIDS, IOW'A.

SLElGH.

- SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 359,692, dated March22, 1887,

Application filed November 30, 1856. Serial No. 520.251. (Nome-deli Toall whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WVILLIAM H. REMSEN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Gedar Rapids, in the county of Linn and State of Iowa,haveinvent-ed certain new and useful Improvements in Sleighs, of which thefollowing is a specification.

The object of my invention is to make a strong and durable sleigh inwhich the runners shall have an independent oscillation and theinvention consists in the adaptation of means to this end, ashereinafter fully set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification,Figure 1 represents a plan view of the invention; Fig. 2, asideelevation of the front bob with aportion of one of the castings removedto show the interior construction; Fig. 3, a similar view of the deviceas applied to a wooden runner; Fig. 4, a rear end view of the same, andFig. 5 a longitudinal section of the upper part of the runner and theconnections in a modified form.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawings, it will be seen that the frame which supportsthe bolster is composed of two cross-beams, G C, with trans versepieces, upon which the bolster rests. I also provide the frame with endpieces, I) D, in place of the ordinary fender, and the frame when thusconstructed is very stiff and strong. To provide for the rocking of therunners attached to this frame, the following means are employed:

To the under side of the cross-beams G O is attached a transversesaddle, B, with flanges projecting downward at the ends and sides. Theseflanges inclose the upper part of the runner A, which is made about thelength of the extreme width of the frame. That part of the saddle whichrests upon the runner is formed with a convex curve, as shown, so as torock or so as to allow the runner to rock freely. The upper surface ofthe part A may be plane, as shown in Fig. 5, or convex, as shown inFigs. 2 and 3. In practiceI not only connect the saddle with thecross-beams by means of vertical bolts, but employ a horizontal bolt, G,passing through flanges at the ends of the saddle, the effect of whichis to truss the frame and materially increase the strength of thesaddle, which may thus be made of lighter material than otherwise.

In Fig. 2 is shown a twofold means of connecting the runner with thesaddle, one being the bracerod F and the other the slots (1 d in theside of the saddle and the pins 9 g in the runnerseat A. Either devicemay be dispensed with, if desired, without materially affecting theoperation of the invention. there is more or less lateral strain on therunners at times, I regard it as desirable to brace them in thisdirection, and this I do by means of the bracerods F F, passing from therunner proper, A, to the fender-pieces D I), or to some other suitableand convenient part of the frame. In the case of iron runners, the lowerends of the brace-rods may be pivoted directly thereto, as shown in Fig.2, while in the case of a wooden runner it is desirable to attach asupplemental knee having lugs i 1 to which the braces are attached. Theupper ends are preferably held by a simple eyebolt, h. In order to allowfor the free movement of the runner when these braces are drawn uptight, it is necessary to make the curvature of the rocker and seat, orof the rocker alone, to correspond. This is done by making the radius ofeach segment of a circle in the former case one-half the length of thebracerod between its pivotal points, or in the latter case by making thecurve of the saddle a segment of a circle whose diameter is the distancebetween the upper pivotal point of the brace and the runner-seat. These,if not geometrically correct, are near enough for all practicalpurposes. When the pins and slots are dispensed with, thedownwardly-extending ends of the saddle may serve to preventlongitudinal movement of the runner.

Iprefer to attach the pole E to the frame instead of the runners, sinceit not only removes the strain from the runners, but also allows them tomove the more freely. So constructed, the runners may be altogetherdisconnected from the pole, as shown in Fig. 3, or have a movableconnection therewith, as shown in Fig. 2, which is so simple as to require no description.

In the case of wooden runners, or even iron ICO ones, if desired, theymay be provided with a fender, I, extending from the forward end of therunner to the frame or front knee. In order toallow for the oscillationof the runner, the back end of the fender should be dropped downsomewhat, as shown in Fig. 3.

An improvement in the construction of the runners is also shown. Thisconsists in making the knees of a cast-iron runner of bars ofwrought-iron cast into the respective parts of the runner in the mannershown.

Thus constructed, the sleigh has all the strength and stiffness of frameof the common .doublebench sleigh, and at the same time that freeoscillation of the runners which admits of its running easily andwithout undue strain.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, in a sleigh, ol'a saddle adapted to connect withcross-beams and a runnor-seat for said saddle, one of said parts beingconvexly curved on the side which bears upon its fellow, and the face ofthe other part being plane or convex, whereby the parts are permitted torock, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. I

2. In a double-bench sleigh, the combination of the cross-beams O O, thesaddle B,

tially as shown, and the runner-seat A, in.- elosed within said flanges,one or both said castings having a curved connection with its fellow,whereby the runner is allowed to rock, substantially as specified.

8. In a sleigh, the combination of the saddle B, the runner A A, havingdouble convex or plane and convex bearing connection, whereby they arepermitted to rock, as specifled, and a brace-rod, F, adjusted withreference to said rocking of the parts, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination of the cross-beams O G, the saddle B, having thecurved bearing a, the

truss-rod G, and the runner A A, substan WILLIAM REMSEN.

Witnesses:

FRANK G. CLARK, S. LESLIE LEORON.

